The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MAI 29, 1879.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 29 May 1879, Page 2

The Waikat oTTies.m es.

THURSDAY, MAI 29, 1879.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever atate or persuasion, religious or political. Hero shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by infkwnofi taibribed by ' gain.

As Jud^e Munro acted yesterday ni the Court at Cambridge with Te .Ngakau, must the Government of the Colony act towards Te Whiti and his folio wers'on the West Coast — with moderation and firmness. The outrage committed at Orakau of forcibly re-entering npon conpseated« lands m the occupation of their lawful owner, is one which cannot for a moment be allowed, and if persisted m, must be ; met by determined action on the part of the law. It may be that the act is a mere formal protest of right on the part of the offending natives, and that no forcible possession is intended to be maintained. The last telegrams which have been received from Hew Plymouth we uld seem almost to favor this view of the case, for a telegram received by Major Sta'pp on Tuesday from Mr Bayley stated that up to the time of putting, m the message there was no sign of the nativbs who had threatened to plough up hi 3 land. Mr Caverhill, too, is reported to have intormed the Government that he does not con. sider the 'circumstances so critical as they had been reported. No land except that of Mr Caverhill's, as stated iv or.r last issue, has, indeed, been entered upon. It is very certain fllat at this particular moment the native mind is m a state of disquiet, but that any, even the most -fanatical, seriously intend to try conclusions with violence we do not believe. Like Te Ngakau at Cambridge, they will bounce and bluster, but if met with firmness and determination they, like him, will be brought to submit to the law. Should the natives who have entered upon Mr Caverhill's land maintain possession, then they must be plainly and unmistakably told that whatever claims they may have, or may imagine that they have, will be heard m a legal and constitutional manner, and that if then they are not amenable to reason and will not submit to the arbitrament of the law § they will be treated m the same manner that Enropeans would be if similarly offending-. The Government will act wisely m avoiding- an open rupture at any cost and by any means consis'ent with justice and with the dignity of tho law, but the law, if defiance be continued to a certain point, must be maintained let the consequences be what they may. The Government must place its foot fairly down and make a stand against any sacb aggression as that at first reported, and this we believe it is their intention to do by means of the machinery of the law, that ig, the civil and not thd military ai'rn of the State. The natives no more than ourselves are desirous of wai« and when they see that it is determined to enforce the law by the exercise of the civil authority, and, that being resisted, that the sword will be then called m. to uphold the civil executive they .will not push measures to extremes- This is not only ike wisest policy for our own sakes, but the kmdest we can exercise towards them. To vacillate, to threaten one moment and propitiate the next, is to invite aggression, but to maintain a bold and calm front, to let them see plainly how the case stands, that we are w illing to bear and forbear much for the sake of peace and for the welfare of both races, but that if they presume on that forbearance, aud proceed from intemperate threats toactua

aggression, we are ready tc accept the consequences of a direct issue and once and for all settle the native difficulty m this Island — this is the surest and the only means to preserve peace and parry, the bounce aud bluster of the native character. '